Wrap around insulator



Jan. 12, 1960 G. WILSON 2,921,115

WRAP AROUND INSULATOR Filed June 10, 1958 INVENTOR.

GEORGE MLSON United States Patent WRAP AROUND INSULATOR George Wilson, Fort Payne, Ala.

Application June 10, 1958, Serial No. 741,075

2 Claims. (Cl. 174-174) This invention relates to insulators and more particularly to a wrap around insulator.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wrap around insulator that is fast and easy to use and which can be as readily removed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wrap around insulator of the above type that can be used continuously, or which can be re-used for different purposes so as to provide for a substantially long useful life of the assembly.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a wrap around insulator bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efiicient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a wrap around insulator made in accordance with the present invention in operative use;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the wrap around insulator shown in Figure I removed from its mounting;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of an actuating member forming a part of the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a right end elevational view of the device shown in Figure 4.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 3 thereof, a wrap around insulator made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a base plate 12 having a laterally outwardly extending tab 13. A side arm 15 is hingedly con nected eat one end to the base plate 12 by means of a hinge pin 16. The opposite end of this side arm 16 is provided with a'plurality of longitudinally spaced apart and outwardly extending hooks 17, for purposes hereinafter described. An end hook 19 is also embedded within the side arm 15 and extends outwardly from the free end thereof.

A tension spring 20 is releasably secured at one end to the end hook 19 of the side arm 15. An actuating member 22 having a cylindrical externally knurled portion 23 is frictionally engaged within the opposite end of the spring 20. A longitudinal groove 24 on one side of the 2,921,115 Patented Jan. 12, 1960 2 knurled portion 23 facilitates the assembly of the latch member 22 with the spring 20, while an angularly outwardly extending projection 25 provides means for selectively stretching the spring 20 during the application and removal of the insulator, during use.

Another side arm 27 is pivotally secured at one end to the opposite end of the base plate 12 by means of the hinge pin 28. Thes free end of this side arm 27 is also provided with an embedded hook 29. In use, this hook 29 receives the opposite end of the tension spring 20, so as to frictionally secure the insulator around the supporting member.

The base plate 12 and side arms 15, 27 are constructed from a flexible dielectric material, such as molded plastic. As a result, the insulator will readily conform to the exact shape of the member upon which it is supported and the spring 20 will allow the insulator to be attached to a member of substantially any size. In actual use, after the insulator has been wrapped around the supporting member, it is only necessary to hook an electric wire to the tab 13 which forms a mounting therefor, and the unit is ready for use.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claimas new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A wrap around insulator comprising, in combination, a dielectric flexible band assembly, fastening means adjustably securing the ends of said band together, an actuating member associated with said fastening means for releasing said fastening means, mounting means associated with said flexible band assembly for attaching a conductor thereto, said flexible band assembly comprising a flexible base plate, a pair of flexible side arms one hingedly connected to each end of said base plate, said fastening means comprising a tension spring supported at one end upon the other end of one of said side arms, the outer end of the other one of said side arms comprising a hook for releasably supporting the opposite end of said spring, said actuating member comprising an externally knurled cylindrical member frictionally secured within said opposite end of said spring, and an angularly outwardly extending projection integral with said cylindrical member.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises a tab extending laterally outwardly from said base plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 561,576 Flannery June 9, 1896 767,941 Hartung Aug. 16, 1904 901,652 Seydel Oct. 20, 1908 1,169,457 Brooks Jan. 25, 1916 1,479,150 Mellus Jan. 1, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTS 146,837 Switzerland July 16, 1931 446,669 Great Britain Apr. 29, 1935 

